Ladle for casting metal



April 1, 1958 J. F. BLACK ETAL LADLE FOR CASTING METAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 8. 1955 GASES COMBUSTION INVEN FREDERICK W. 2 JOHN F. BLACK.

Leir' J. F. BLACK EI'AL LADLE FOR CASTING METAL April 1, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1955 m r. a i M W w H. m e 0N .r FJ

United States LADLE FOR CASTING METAL John F. Black and Frederick W.Rys, Pittsburgh, Pa., as-

signors to Koppers Company, inc, a eerporation of Delaware ApplicationFebruary 8, 1955, Serial No. 436,846

11 Claims. (Cl. 2283) This invention relates to ladies for casting metaland more particularly for continuous metal casting.

It is an object of this invention to provide a ladle for molten metal,such as molten iron or molten steel, which ladle has a burner in aposition to discharge hot combustion gases in a manner to force or pushback from A further object is to provide a ladle for the continuouscasting of metal such as for example steel, which ladle has a burnermoveable along with a vessel in a position to discharge hot combustiongases into the vessel, which gases will form a neutral blanket over themolten metal preventing oxidation and loss of alloying agent such assilicon.

Additional objects and advantages will be apparent as the invention ishereinafter described in more detail.

Broadly the novel ladle of this invention comprises a vessel having atiltable center axis and a fixed axis of rotation normal thereto, suchvessel being provided with an inner lining of refractory material, apouring spout and a burner set intermediatae the spout and the tiltablecenter axis of the vessel, the burner being moveable along with thevessel and adapted to discharge hot combustion gases into the vesselalong the surface of the molten metal contained therein to force slagaway from the pouring spout and to aid in maintaining the heat of themetal while in the vessel.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view through a preferred ladle ofthe instant invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation view of a modification of the ladle of thisinvention;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substan tially on line 22of Figure 3.

With reference noW to Figure 1 which illustrates a preferred embodimentof this invention, an open-top vessel 10, which is advantageously aferrous metal vessel, is lined with a refractory material 11 such asfire and insulating brick and is provided with a ladle cover 12 attachedto the top portion thereof. The drawing shows the ladle tilted at anangle of approximately 45 for pouring the molten metal therefrom. Theladle cover 12 is provided advantageously with a combustion gas chimneyor outlet 13 which is lined with refractory material 14, such as firebrick, to permit the combustion gases to escape from the interior orchamber portion 15 of the ladle. A burner 16 such as, for exatent2,828,516 Patented Apr. '1, 1958 ample, a high heat oil burner, which isshown in greater detail in Figure 2 of the drawings, is attached to theladle cover 12 and intersects this ladle cover to discharge hotcombustion gases (as indicated by arrows in Figure 1) in a manner suchthat these gases contact or strike the surface of the molten metal closeto the pouring spout, which is indicated generally at 17, to force theslag away from the spout. However if it is desired not to employ a ladlecover, the burner 16 can be suspended above the open-top vessel 10 bymeans of a trolley, or positioned above the open-top vessel by means ofsuitable braces or supports attached to the vessel, such as a spider, soas to be positioned above the vessel to discharge hot combustion gasesin a direction to contact the surface of the molten metal close to thepouring spout to force the slag away from the pouring spout as ishereinbefore described. The pouring spout 17 consists of an outlet spoutportion 18 located beneath the ladle cover, an upwardly-extending inletspout portion 19 communicating with the interior or chamber portion 15of the ladle, and an intermediate spout portion 20 extending upwardlyand inwardly from the inlet spout portion and interconnecting the inletspout portion with an inner part of the outlet spout portion.

As is shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the outlet spout portion isadvantageously V-shaped and the inlet spout portion and the intermediatespout portions are advantageously square shaped in cross section.However the outlet spout portion, intermediate spout portion and inletspout portion could be of a circular shape or square shape in crosssection, or of other suitable shapes.

A dam 21 is located or disposed between the intermediate spout portion20 and the receptacle portion 15 of the ladle. As shown the dam extendsdownwardly from the top of the vessel and defines in part theintermediate spout portion 24) of the pouring spout. However this damcould be a separate element, i. e., a dam that did not aid is definingthe intermediate spout portion or any part of the pouring spout 17 andwas not integral with the top peripheral portion of the vessel. Furtherthis dam 21 could be an upwardly-extending element, as long as it isdisposed between the intermediate spout portion and the interior of theladle as described so as to prevent slag on the surface of the moltenmetal from flowing out through the pouring spout when the ladle istilted for pouring. The vessel 10 is advantageously provided with a slagoutlet 22 in the top rim of the vessel for removal of the gangue or slagfrom the vessel. The axis of rotation of the vessel 10 is indicated at23 and the vertical center axis is indicated by line 9-9.

In the operation of the preferred ladle of this invention, molten metalsuch as molten steel is poured into the open top vessel 10 which islined with fire and insulating brick 11 and preheated preferably toabout 2400" F. with suitable ladle heating means, the ladle' cover 12having first been removed. The ladle cover 12 is then positioned "on thetop portion of the vessel It} and attached thereto in the conventionalmanner. If desired the ladle cover 12 can be attached to the vesselduring the charging operation and the molten metal charged to the ladlethrough the combustion gas chimney or outlet 13.

The charged ladle is then transported to an automatic tilting cradle(not shown) Where the ladle is tilted for pouring. The ladle is tiltedat an angle which will allow the surface of the molten metal to fiowupwardly and behind the dam or lip 21, which dam or lip will thenprevent the slag layer, which floats on the surface of the molten steel,from flowing out through the pouring spout 17. As the molten metal ispoured from the vessel and the amount of molten metal in the vesseldecreases, the ladle is tilted at an increasingly greater angle so. asto always keep the surface of'the molten metal behind thedownwardly-extending lip 21 as shown in Figure 1 thereby preventing thegangue or slag which floats on the surface of the molten metal fromhowing out the pouring spout.

The burner 16, which is attached to and intersects the ladle cover 12 inthe preferred ladle, is ignited advantageously immediately after themolten metal has been charged to the ladle. The burner discharges hotcombustion gases into the interior of the ladle, which gases contact orstrike the surface of the molten metal as shown close to the pouringspout 17 at a velocity sufficient to force or push the slag back fromthe inlet spout portion 18 of the pouring spout.

One type of burner which is eminently adapted for use in this inventionand which is disclosed generally in vertical cross section in Figure 2of the drawings is a high heat, high velocity oil burner manufactured bythe Thermal Research and Engineering Corporation of Consho- 'hocken,Pennsylvania. In this particular burner, the exit velocity of thecombustion gases, i. e., the velocity of the combustion gases as theyleave the burner, generally ranges from approximately 300-500feet/second although velocities exceeding 1000 feet/second can beobtained, if desired. The flame temperature of this burner usuallyexceeds 3000 F. However, it is to be emphasized that this invention isnot limited to the use of any one specific type of burner such as a highheat, high velocity oil burner. Any burner, for example a gas burner,can be employed in this invention which will emit or dischargecombustion gases at a temperature advantageously to maintain the metalat the temperature desired for casting and at a velocity sufiicieut topush or force the gangue or slag back from the inlet spout portion 18 ofthe pouring spout 17.

The hot combustion gases produced by the burner 16 not only obviate theneed of a holding furnace and other auxiliary equipment and force orhold back the slag from the pouring spout but also create a stirringaction in the metal as shown in Figure 1 when the ladle is tipped forpouring. This stirring action improves the homogeneity of the moltensteel, maintains an even temperature throughout the metal in the ladle,and assists in moving the slag or gangue back from the pouring spout.The waste combustion products then pass out from the receptacle portionof the ladle through a combustion gas outlet 13.

The molten metal is poured from the ladle 10 through the pouring spout17 which comprises an outlet spout portion 18 located beneath the ladlecover 12, an upwardly-extending inlet spout portion 19 communicatingwith the interior or chamber portion 15 of the vessel 10, and anintermediate spout portion 20 extending upwardly and inwardly from theinlet spout portion and interconnecting the inlet spout portion with theinner extremity of the outlet spout portion. It is advantageous that theintermediate spout portion 20 extend upwardly and inwardly as described,so as to prevent gangue or slag from flowing out of the ladle before theladle can be tilted at an angle suflicient to raise the surface of themolten metal upwardly and behind the dam or lip 21. This type of spoutis called a semi tea pot spout. The spout could also be of the full teapot type, if desired.

After the molten metal has been poured from the ladle, the gangue orslag is advantageously poured out through a slag outlet 22. However, thehot slag could be poured out through the pouring spout 17, if desired.

As a modification or dilferent embodiment of the ladle of thisinvention, which modification is exemplified by Figure 3 and in moredetail by Figure 4, a cylindrical vessel 25, which is advantageously aferrous metal vessel, is lined with a refractory material 26 such asfire and in- 4 sulating brick. A plurality of burners 27 such as, forexample, high heat oil burners are attached to and intersect thediametrical upper half portion 28 of the vessel which is the portionlocated above the pouring spout indicated generally at 29. These burnersintersect this upper portion of the vessel to discharge hot combustiongases (as indicated by arrows in Figure 4) in a direction such thatthese gases contact or strike the surface of the molten metal close tothe pouring spout at a velocity sufficient to force or push the slag organgue away from the pouring spout.

Depending on the size of the vessel, one burner or a plurality ofburners can be employed. A plurality of burners 27 are employed in theladle disclosed in Figures 3 and 4 because of the large size of thisladle with its horizontal length (as taken along line 3737 of Figure 3)greater than its diameter (as taken along line 2-2 of Figure 3). Aburner or burners eminently suited for this embodiment is the foregoinghigh heat, high velocity burner manufactured by the Thermal Research andEngineering Corporation. However other burners, such as, for example,gas burners can be employed in this modification which will dischargecombustion gases at a temperature advantageously to maintain the metalat a temperature for casting and at a velocity suflicient to force theslag back from the pouring spout 2 9.

The pouring spout 29 comprises an upper outlet spout portion 31communicating with the exterior of the vessel and a downwardly extendingspout portion 32 communicating at its lower part with the interior orchamber portion 33 of the vessel and interconnecting the upper outletspout portion with the interior of the ladle. The upper outlet spoutportion 31 is advantageously substantially V-shaped in cross section butcould be of a circular or square shape, if desired;

A dam 34 is located or disposed between the downwardly extending spoutportion 32 and the interior or chamber portion of the vessel. Asdisclosed the dam defines in part the downwardly extending spout portion32 of the pouring spout. However this darn could be a separate elementand would not have to aid in definin any part of the pouring spout.

The vessel is provided with an orifice which is lined with refractorymaterial such as firebrick. In'this embodiment this orifice can servetwo purposes, viz., to

serve as an inlet for charging the steel to the vessel and to serve asan outlet for permitting the waste products of combustion to escape fromthe interior of the vessel.

As shown the vessel 25 is advantageously provided with a slag lip oroutlet 35 for permitting the gangue or slag to be removed from theladleafter the molten metal has been removed. However the hot slag couldbe removed through the pouring spout 29, if desired. As disclosed inFigure 3, the vessel 25 is advantageously provided with pivot members 36attached to the exterior of the vessel for permitting the ladle to betilted for pouring. However if desired, these tilting members could beomitted and the ladle tilted in a suitable tilting apparatus. The axisof rotation of the vessel 25 is located at 37 and the vertical centeraxis is indicated by line 44.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention is substantiallyidentical to the hereinbefore-described operation of the preferredembodiment. The effect of the hot combustion gases on the molten steelin the vessel is also the same as in the preferred embodiment.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to a ladle ofanyone specific shape. For example, the vessel could be rectangular inshape, drum-shaped, square in shape, round in shape, etc.

What is claimed is:

l. A ladle for casting metal comprising a vessel having a tiltablecenter axis and fixed axis of rotation normal thereto, said vessel beingprovided with an inner. lining of refractory material and adapted tohold amass of molten metal having a layer of molten slag thereon,

assume a pouring spout, a refractory-lined orifice communicating theinterior of the vessel with the exterior of the vessel, and a burnermoveable along with the vessel, said burner and said orifice being bothdisposed in the upper portion of said vessel above said axis of rotationwhen said vessel is in a vertical position, and said burner being setintermediate said spout and said tiltable center axis to discharge hotcombustion gases into the vessel in a direction along the surface of themolten metal and at a velocity sufiicient to force the slag away fromthe pouring spout.

2. A ladle for casting metal comprising a vessel of greater horizontallength than width, said vessel having a tiltable center axis and a fixedaxis of rotation normal thereto, said vessel being provided with aninner lining of refractory material and adapted to hold a mass of moltenmetal having a layer of molten slag thereon, a pouring spout, arefractory-lined orifice communicating the interior of the vessel withthe exterior of the vessel, and a plurality of burners attached to thevessel and intersecting it along its horizontal length in a region ofsaid vessel above the normal level of the upper surface of the slag onmolten metal therein, said pouring spout comprising an upper outletspout portion communicating with the exterior of the vessel and adownwardly extending spout portion communicating at its lower part withthe interior of the vessel and interconnecting the upper outlet spoutportion with the interior of the ladle,

a dam disposed between the pouring spout and the interior of the vesselto prevent the slag on the surface of the molten metal from flowing outthrough the pouring spout when the ladle is tilted for pouring, saidburners and said orifice being both disposed in the upper portion of thevessel, and said burners being set intermediate said spout and saidtiltable axis to discharge hot combustion gases into the vessel in adirection along the surface of said molten metal and at a velocitysufiicient to force slag away from the pouring spout.

3. A ladle in accordance with claim 2 further characterized in that therefractory-lined orifice which communicates the interior of the vesselwith the exterior of the vessel is an orifice in the periphery of thevessel on the side of the axis of rotation opposite the side at whichthe burners are disposed, said orifice comprising a radial extensionbeyond the periphery of the vessel terminating in an upwardly extendinglip.

4. A ladle for casting metal comprising an open-top vessel having atiltable center axis and a fixed axis of rotation normal thereto, saidvessel being provided with an inner lining of refractory material andadapted to hold a mass of molten metal having a layer of molten slagthereon; a pouring spout in the upper portion of the vessel; and aburner moveable along with the vessel; said pouring spout comprising anupper outlet spout portion communicating with the exterior of thevessel, a lowerupwardly extending inlet spout portion communicating withthe interior of the vessel, and an intermediate spout portion extendingupwardly and inwardly of the vessel from the inlet spout portion andinterconnecting said inlet spout portion with an inner part of theoutlet spout portion; said burner being set intermediate said spout andsaid tiltable axis to discharge hot combustion gases into the top of thevessel in a direction along the surface of the molten metal close to thepouring spout and at a velocity sufiicient to force the slag away fromthe pouring spout.

5. A ladle for casting metal comprising an open-top vessel having atiltable center axis and a fixed axis of rotation normal thereto, saidvessel being provided with an inner lining of refactory material andadapted to hold a mass of molten metal having a layer of molten slagthereon a pouring spout in the upper portion of the vessel; a ladlecover disposed over the top portion of said vessel and provided with arefractory-lined outlet for combustion products and a burner attached tosaid ladle cover and intersecting it; said pouring spout comprising anupper outlet spout portion located beneath the ladle cover, a lowerupwardly-extending inlet spout portion communicating with the interiorof the vessel, and an intermediate spout portion extending upwardly andinwardly of the vessel fromtne inlet spout portion and interconnectingsaid inlet spout portion with an inner part of the outlet spout portion;said burner intersecting the ladle cover intermediate said spout andsaid tiltable center axis to discharge hot combustion gases into thevessel along the surface of the molten metal close to the pouring spoutand at a velocity sufficient to force the slag away from the pouringspout.

6. A ladle for casting metal comprising an open top vessel having atailtable center axis and a fixed axis of rotation normal thereto, saidvessel being provided with an inner lining of refractory material andadapted to hold a mass of molten metal having a layer of molten slagthereon; a pouring spout in the upper portion of the vessel; a ladlecover disposed over the top portion of said vessel and provided with arefractory-lined outlet for combustion products; a burner attached tosaid ladle cover and intersecting said ladle cover; said pouring spoutcomprising an upper outlet spout portion located beneath the ladlecover, a lower upwardly-extending inlet spout portion communicating withthe interior of the vessel, and an intermediate spout portion extendingupwardly and inwardly of the vessel from the inlet spout portion andinterconnecting said inlet spout portion with an inner part of theoutlet spout portion; a dam disposed between the intermediate spoutportion and the interior of the ladle to prevent the slag on the surfaceof the molten metal from flowing out through the pouring spout when theladle is tilted for pouring; said burner intersecting the ladle coverintermediate said spout and said tiltable center axis to discharge hotcombustion gases adjacent said dam along the surface of the molten metalclose to the pouring spout, thereby forcing the slag back from saidpouring spout.

7. A ladle for casting metal comprising an open-top vessel having atiltable center axis and a fixed axis of rotation normal thereto, saidvessel being provided with an inner lining of refractory material andadapted to hold a mass of molten metal having a layer of molten slagthereon; a pouring spout in the upper portion of the vessel; a ladlecover disposed over the top portion of said vessel and provided with arefractory-lined outlet for combustion products and a burner attached tosaid ladle cover and intersecting it; said pouring spout comprising anupper outlet spout portion located beneath the ladle cover, a lowerupwardly-extending inlet spout portion communicating with the interiorofthe vessel, and an intermediate spout portion extending upwardly andinwardly of the vessel from the inlet spout portion and interconnectingsaid inlet spout portion with an inner part of the outlet spout portion;a dam disposed be tween the intermediate spout portion and the interiorof the ladle to prevent the slag on the surface of the molten metal fromflowing out through the pouring spout when the ladle is tilted forpouring; said burner intersecting the ladle cover intermediate saidspout and said tiltable axis to discharge hot combustion gases adjacentsaid dam and along the surface of the molten metal close to the pouringspout and thereby forcing the slag back from said pouring spout.

8. A ladle for steel casting comprising an open-top vessel having atiltable center axis of rotation and a fixed axis of rotation normalthereto, said vessel being provided with an inner lining of refractorymaterial and adapted to hold a mass of molten steel having a layer ofmolten slag thereon, a pouring spout in the upper 1 portion of thevessel, a slag outlet in the top rim of the vessel for removal of theslag; a ladle cover disposed over the top portion of the vessel andprovided with a refractory-lined outlet for combustion products and aburner attached to said ladle cover and intersecting it; said pouringspout comprising an upper outlet spout portion located beneath the ladlecover, a lower upwardly-extending inlet spout portion communicating withthe interior of the vessel, and an intermediate spout portion extendingupwardly and inwardly of the vessel from the inlet spout portion andinterconnecting said inlet spout portion with an inner part of theoutlet spout portion; a downwardly-extending lip disposed between theintermediate spout portion and the interior of the ladle to dam the slagon the surface of the molten metal from flowing out through the pouringspout when the ladle is tilted for pouring; said burner intersecting theladle cover intermediate said spout and said tiltable center axis todischarge hot combustion gases adjacent said lip and along the surfaceof the molten metal close to the pouring spout and thereby forcing theslag back from said pouring spout.

9. A ladle for casting metal comprising a vessel of greater horizontallength than width, said vessel having a tiltable center axis and a fixedaxis of rotation normal thereto, said vessel being provided with aninner lining of refractory material and adapted to hold a mass of moltenmetal having a layer of molten slag thereon, a pouring spout, arefractory-lined orifice communicating the interior of the vessel withthe exterior of the vessel, and a plurality of burners attached to thevessel and intersecting it along its horizontal length in a region ofsaid vessel above the normal level of the upper surface of the slag onmolten metal therein, said burners and said orifice being both disposedin the upper portion of the vessel, and said burners being setintermediate said spout and said vertical center axis to discharge hotcombustion gases into the vessel in a direction along the surface of themolten metal contained therein and at a velocity sufficient to forceslag away from the pouring spout.

10. A ladle for casting metal comprising a vessel having a tiltablecenter axis and a fixed axis of rotation normal thereto, said vesselbeing provided with an inner lining of refractory material and adaptedto hold a mass of molten metal having a layer of molten slag thereon, apouring spout, and a burner moveable along with the vessel, said burnerbeing set intermediate said spout and said tiltable center axis todischarge hot combustion gases into the vessel in a direction along thesurface of the molten metal and at a velocity sufiicient to force theslag away from the pouring spout.

11. A ladle for casting metal comprising a vessel hav ing a tiltablecenter axis and a fixed axis of rotation normal thereto, said vesselbeing provided with an inner lining of refractory material and adaptedto hold a mass of molten metal having a layer of slag thereon, a pouringspout, a ladle cover disposed over said vessel at a level above an inletto said pouring spout, and a burner attached to said ladle cover andintersecting it, said burner intersecting the ladle cover intermediatesaid spout and said tiltable axis to discharge hot combustion gases intothe vessel along the surface of the molten metal and at avelocity'sufiicient to force the slag away from the pouring spout.

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